Cambodian Union rep 'forced' to confess

Police released union employee Long Panha last night after taking him into custody during a clash between police officers and workers’ rights representatives near Wat Botum in Phnom Penh in which he was beaten and left bleeding from the head, NGO officials said.

According to Panha, 23, who was treated for injuries to his face and forehead after his release, police forced him to thumbprint a confession in which he apologised for instigating the conflict between police and protesters, an admission he rescinded at a press conference yesterday morning.

Before:

“I did not clash with the police first,” he said. “My hand was empty but the police had shields and sticks. It is a violation of human rights.”

After:

“I am sorry for clashing with police yesterday morning. I promise to stop clashing with police anyway. I ask the police to end this case at the Phnom Penh Police Office,” read a copy of his confession.

Meanwhile, the weeks-long strike that prompted Panha and other labour rights activists to hold their demonstration continued at Tai Yang’s Kandal province factory yesterday and will persist, said CATU President Yang Sophorn.

“If they get a solution from their employer, they will return to work,” she said. “They do not yet calm down.”